What 'Mental Retardation' Means, and Why the Term Is Acceptable

Montgomery Village

Dear Extra Credit:

· Mental retardation is the term used in federal and state special education law.

· It is possible to have both mental retardation and a learning disability. The terms are not equivalent. If you have an individual with mental retardation with a specific, measured intellectual level, who cannot read or do math at that expected intellectual level, he/she may be diagnosed with a specific learning disability.

· "Developmental disability" is a broader term, encompassing conditions such as autism (which may or may not be co-morbid with mental retardation). Federal and state special education laws do use the term developmental delay, but I think it can only apply to children ages 3 through 9.